Brentwood

Brentwood's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 74,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Brentwood increased by 7.5%, from almost 68,500 to 73,600.

The addition of about 5,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Brentwood was home to, on average, 3.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Change in work hours

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased in Brentwood, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except St Albans.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.9% to 2.9%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Brentwood said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 16% to 13%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

Across the region, only St Albans (from 61% to 58%) and Thurrock (from 57% to 54%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (60%) households in Brentwood had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 28% to 29%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Brentwood

The number of people in Brentwood that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 8,600 in 2001 to about 16,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 21% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Brentwood that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 54,000 in 2001 to about 51,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 4,100 to just over 5,200 (from 6.1% to 7.1%).

About 780 people (0.8%) said they were Hindu, up from about 510 in 2001 (1.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Brentwood increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Brentwood by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Brentwood that rented privately increased from 7.2% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Brentwood households that owner their home decreased from 79% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Brentwood increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Brentwood, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Brentwood residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.9% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Brentwood residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Brentwood decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Brentwood, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links